Treatment of Fasciola hepatica infection in horses with triclabendazole.

The research article explores the effectiveness of triclabendazole in treating horses infected with Fasciola hepatica, a type of liver fluke. It was found that a treatment dose of 12 mg triclabendazole per kilogram of bodyweight successfully cured both adult and presumed immature infections in infected foals with no observed side effects.

Research Methodology and Process

• The study involved thirteen thoroughbred foals suffering from both adult and presumed immature Fasciola hepatica infections. They were all treated with a dose of 12 mg triclabendazole per kilogram of bodyweight.
• Following the treatment, the researchers monitored the foals by regularly examining feces samples from the treated animals. This was done at intervals up to 110 days after the treatment.
• Based on the absence of parasite eggs in the feces, it was concluded that all animals were successfully cured of the infection.

Comparative Study and Results

• After the initial, successful trial, a second trial was carried out to compare the effectiveness of triclabendazole with nitroxynil, another medication used to treat Fasciola hepatica infections.
• The second trial also applied the same dosage of 12 mg triclabendazole per kilogram bodyweight for one group of foals and 7 mg/kg of nitroxynil for another group.
• The results showed that triclabendazole managed to cure 11 out of 12 foals, demonstrating a higher efficacy rate compared to nitroxynil which only cured six out of 12 foals.

Side Effects Post-Treatment

• Both trials did not show any significant adverse effects on horses post-treatment. This observation suggests that triclabendazole, not only has a higher efficacy rate, but also does not produce any observable side effects in the treatment of Fasciola hepatica infection in horses.